Center for Human Genetics Opens in Greenwood

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Trudy Mackay and students at the Clemson Center for Human Genetics.

With an internationally prominent geneticist at the helm, the Clemson Center for Human Genetics opened its state-of-the-art facility in August in Self Regional Hall on the campus of the Greenwood Genetic Center in Greenwood, S.C.

Center director Trudy Mackay, Self Family Endowed Chair in Human Genetics and professor of genetics and biochemistry, is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on the genetics of complex traits.

Mackay, recipient of Trinity College’s 2018 Dawson Prize in Genetics, is joined at the center by Robert Anholt, Provost’s Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Biochemistry and director of faculty excellence initiatives in the College of Science. Both came to Clemson from North Carolina State University.

“We now know that all of us are 99.9 percent identical in our DNA, but that tenth-of-a-percent difference translates to 3 million small genetic differences
between any two of us,” said Mackay, who has published more than 200 papers. “The challenge now is to understand how these molecular differences in DNA affect our susceptibility to diseases like cancer and heart ailments.”

The naming of Self Regional Hall recognizes the ongoing support from Self Regional Healthcare, which has contributed $5.6 million to the facility. In addition, the $4 million endowed chair held by Mackay was funded equally by the Self Family Foundation and the state of South Carolina.

Clemson President James P. Clements noted that the partnership with the Greenwood Genetic Center and the support of Self Regional Healthcare and the Self Family Foundation “will allow our faculty researchers to translate their findings into tangible treatment options more quickly and efficiently.”

School of Nursing opens Greenville education and research facility

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Clemson Nursing building in GreenvilleSouth Carolina is one of seven states projected to have a shortage of registered nurses by 2030, according to a 2017 report by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. South Carolina’s nursing shortage is expected to top 10,000; it’s one of only four states expected to have that significant a shortage.

A collaboration between Clemson and the Greenville Health System is designed to address that shortage. The Clemson University Nursing building, an education and research facility housing an expansion of Clemson’s baccalaureate nursing program at GHS, opened in August.

The new building allowed the School of Nursing to increase first-year enrollment from 64 in fall 2015 to 173 in fall 2018. By fall 2021, total enrollment in the baccalaureate program is anticipated to top 700, an increase from 256 in fall 2015.

“The collaboration will not only expand our enrollment, but will also integrate teaching and clinical practice in innovative ways that will positively impact nursing education and patient outcomes,” said Kathleen Valentine, director of Clemson’s School of Nursing.

Nursing students will take their general education and nursing foundation courses on Clemson’s main campus during their freshman and sophomore years. After that, they are placed into one of two cohorts: One will take nursing courses in Greenville under the guidance of Clemson faculty and complete clinical rotations across multiple GHS campuses; the other will take junior and senior nursing courses on Clemson’s main campus and complete clinical rotations at health systems across the Upstate, including GHS.

Graduate nursing students will have priority clinical rotations within GHS to be prepared to care for rural and vulnerable populations.

“This innovative collaboration will help ensure that GHS and the entire region and beyond have high-quality nurses in spite of a nursing shortage,” said GHS President Spence Taylor.

$11 million NIH grant creates new center for musculoskeletal research

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Hai Yao, the Ernest R. Norville Endowed Chair of bioengineering at Clemson University and leader of SC-TRIMH, talks with a student in his lab at MUSC. Image Credit: Grace Beahm

Hai Yao, the Ernest R. Norville Endowed Chair of bioengineering at Clemson University and leader of SC-TRIMH, talks with a student in his lab at MUSC.
Image Credit: Grace Beahm

Disorders affecting bones and joints — including arthritis, osteoporosis and chronic back pain — are a major driver of health care costs around the world. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that by 2040, more than one-quarter of Americans will be diagnosed with arthritis.

Clemson is looking to address that problem. With an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s Center for Biomedical Research Excellence, the University has launched a new research center that will bring together scientists from across South Carolina to change the way musculoskeletal disorders are diagnosed, treated and studied.

Led by bioengineers at Clemson, the South Carolina Center for Translational Research Improving Musculoskeletal Health combines orthopedics and other clinical expertise from the Greenville Health System and the Medical University of South Carolina with computer scientists, computational engineers, biophysicists and other experts to better understand musculoskeletal disorders and to design and evaluate new devices, interventions and drug therapies.

Celebrating Life

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Ten years after Clemson opened its doors to young adults with intellectual disabilities, the University and the community have come to embrace a program that equips students with skills to live more complete lives.

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My Clemson: Bear Walker '11

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Bear WalkerGraphic communications major-turned-custom skateboard maker, Bear Walker reveals his creative process.

Q: HOW DID YOU GET INTO MAKING CUSTOM SKATEBOARDS?

A: I got my degree from Clemson in graphic communications, and for one of my projects, I actually chose to design a skateboard. After that, I didn’t touch anything skateboard-related for a few years. I became a prop master at a special rims company and then a fabricator at a custom sign shop. When I was carving out a custom sign one day, I thought it would make a pretty cool grip for a skateboard, so I tried it and made one. People started asking me where I got it from, and I started taking orders. It just grew from there.

Q: IS THERE A LESSON OR MEMORY FROM CLEMSON THAT STICKS WITH YOU?

A: My favorite stuff at Clemson was the printing projects, and that meant you were going to be in lab for, like, your entire life. But it was the fun part. That kind of translated to my career. If you’re going to do something more fun as an occupation, it’s going to be a lot more work because most of the time, passion projects aren’t necessities. Like if someone’s breaker goes out, they have to call an electrician to get a new breaker, but I have to convince someone to buy a skateboard.

Beacon by Bear Walker

Q: HOW MANY SKATEBOARDS DO YOU MAKE IN A DAY?

A: If I’m doing stock orders, I can make six. If I’m working on a custom, it’ll probably just be that one.

Q: HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED WHEN YOU’RE WORKING LONG HOURS?

A: I do get burnt out every once in a while, but then I’ll do a custom for a client, and they’ll request something I’ve never done before. I’ll try it out and figure out new ways to carve, which brings so many new possibilities for other projects. That’s what keeps me inspired. I know the more I do this, the crazier and better stuff I can come up with.

Q: WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR RECENT GRADS?

A: Be susceptible to change. If you have a really good idea of what you want to do, that’s awesome — kudos to you. But if you’re not 100 percent set in your career path, don’t be afraid to take opportunities you didn’t quite have in mind to begin with. Sometimes, you get into a job or get offered an opportunity, and it completely changes your mindset for where you want your life to go.

Q: FAVORITE SKATEBOARD TRICK?

A: Power slide.

When in Los Angeles

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Valerie Joy WilsonWelcome to the home of the stars! My name is Valerie Joy Wilson, and I am a travel journalist, photographer, host and influencer, as well as the founder of TrustedTravelGirl.com — a guide to globetrotting. As a 2013 Clemson grad, I love to show off my class ring on all of my travels around the world. When I’m not traveling, I’m enjoying everything Los Angeles has to offer. Here’s a curated list of some of my favorite spots around the city:

 

1 BEVERLY HILLS With some of the best eats in L.A., Beverly Hills has more to offer than just Rodeo Drive. For lunch, Wally’s has outdoor seating, a phenomenal wine menu and incredible charcuterie boards. For cocktails, the brand-new Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria is the place to be with a cocktail menu crafted by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and a rooftop bar boasting panoramic views of Beverly Hills.

 

West Hollywood

West Hollywood

2 WEST HOLLYWOOD Here is where you’re more likely to bump into some of the stars; it’s not unusual for me to see A-listers while grocery shopping or heading out to lunch. For breakfast, the Griddle is known for having large stacks of pancakes and “secret French toast,” which used to require a secret password for ordering. Now, anyone can order it (no password required), and it’s a fan favorite, so don’t miss it.

3 THAI TOWN Few cities around the world have Thai food that can rival Thailand, but Los Angeles does. In an unassuming strip mall in the middle of Thai Town is Jitlada, one of the best Thai restaurants anywhere in the world.

PRO TIP: Owner Mama Jazz cooks Southern Thai food, which means the dishes are spicy. If you can’t handle the heat, be sure to let your server know.

 

Lake Hollywood Park

Lake Hollywood Park

4 HOLLYWOOD One of the best places to catch a glimpse of the iconic Hollywood sign is Lake Hollywood Park. It’s the perfect place to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the sunny SoCal weather.

 

5 MALIBU My favorite spot in Malibu is Paradise Cove, famously featured on the covers of Beach Boys albums. Just above the cove, you can catch a view of the “million-dollar trailer park,” where trailer homes have sold for up to $3.75 million. Stars including Matthew McConaughey and Pamela Anderson have been residents of the park.

Malibu

Malibu

Club News

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DC/Maryland Clemson Club Evening

AN EVENING WITH THE PRESIDENT

On June 13, 2018, the Baltimore/ Washington, D.C., Clemson Club hosted an evening event at the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. Over 125 alumni gathered along with members of Congress, members of the Board of Visitors and guests from campus for a keynote speech by President Clements. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed refreshments and heavy hors d’oeuvres, notably the local specialty: Maryland crab cakes.

Atlanta Clemson Club Speaker Series

SPEAKER SERIES

The Atlanta Clemson Club welcomed Rashard Hall ’11, director of career and professional development for Clemson Football, to its fall speaker series on Sept. 21, 2018. Hall and fellow football alumnus Patrick Godfrey ’17 shared details about the PAW (Passionate About Winning) Journey program, which is focused on cultivating leadership in student-athletes through life skills and professional

Student Send-off

STUDENT SENDOFF

Three Clemson students in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area arrived at the Twin Cities Clemson Club student sendoff on July 29, 2018, where they met and mingled with alumni who were there to support them as they headed to Tigertown. Guests enjoyed a potluck picnic at the home of host Heather Huck ’99. “The Twin Cities Clemson Club officially formed in 2016, and it has been awesome to see the enthusiasm for Clemson grow in the ‘Bold North,’” said club member Tyler Morey ’10.

Smokey Mountain Club Tailgate

TAILGATE KICKOFF

The Smoky Mountain Clemson Club hosted its fourth annual football season kickoff tailgate at the Saratoga Pavilion of Anchor Park in Farragut, Tennessee, on Aug. 26, 2018. Alumni spent time catching up and feasting on a barbecue dinner from the Holy Smokin BBQ food truck.

Richmond Clemson Club Food Drive

CHARITY CHALLENGE

On Sept. 12, 2018, the Richmond Clemson Club participated in the Alumni Charity Challenge, a food drive that supports the Central Virginia Food Bank. The event, held at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, brings alumni chapters from all over Virginia together to fight food insecurity in the state. The Richmond Clemson Club collected 1,462 pounds of the total 107,696 pounds collected at the event.

Are you looking to get involved with a local Clemson Club? Go to alumni.clemson.edu and click on “Join a Club” to find contact info, or contact Stewart Summers at ssummer@clemson.edu.

Tigers in Texas

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Tigers in TexasThe Alumni Association, IPTAY and Annual Giving collaborated to bring Clemson to Texas on Sept. 4-8, 2018. Nearly 1,000 alumni participated in four “CU in the City” events, hosted by the Clemson Clubs of Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas; the events raised funds for the Tigers in Texas Scholarship Endowment, which provides scholarships for Texas-based students attending Clemson.

On Sept. 7, 2018, the Friday before the Texas A&M football game in College Station, more than 400 alumni gathered at a “Welcome to the City” event. ESPN reporters spoke with club leaders and recorded several Clemson traditions, including the $2 bill and the cadence count. Many of the alumni later attended Midnight Yell Practice — a Texas A&M tradition where students practice cheers before the game.

On game day, Texas A&M Association of Former Students President Porter Garner and Clemson President James P. Clements stopped by the Clemson Family tailgate hosted by the Alumni Association and IPTAY to welcome the 850 alumni who attended.

Tigers in Texas 2 Tigers in Texas 3